About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: FX11
- Level: Postgraduate
- Department: Education
- Campus: Frenchay
- Duration: One year full-time
- Delivery: Full-time
- Programme leader: Veronica Tullett
Introduction
This is a new strand of the PGCE Science where you will specialise in Biology. Students who successfully complete this route will be in a strong position to gain employment as teachers of Biology up to post 16 and general science at least to KS3 and possibly KS4. This course will attract bursaries from the Training and Development Agency.
The Secondary PGCE is a one academic year (36 week) course and has been designed to train teachers for the full secondary age phase (11-18). Trainees are assessed against the standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in two key stages, normally KS3 and KS4. In the first half of the autumn term, some trainees may seek to change this to Key Stage 4 and post-16, this will be subject to discussion with the Programme Leader.
During your 12 weeks of study at the university, a range of aspects of teaching and learning of the Science curriculum will be addressed, eg.
- Common misconceptions in Science
- Learning Science through out -of school trips and visits
- Supporting Numeracy and literacy through Science teaching
- Safety in Science lessons
- The nature of Science
The course is active and practical allowing trainees to develop professional competence through work undertaken in schools and in the University. Trainees work with young people, develop their expertise in their specialist subject area, share and discuss educational issues and study relevant educational research. The course is just the beginning of what we hope will be a process of continual professional development throughout a challenging and rewarding career.
Once you have been offered a place on a PGCE Secondary Science course you will have an opportunity to boost your subject knowledge in Chemistry with one of our Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) courses before starting your PGCE.
Our Secondary PGCE programme has recently been graded Outstanding by Ofsted (2011).
Find out more about what PGCE Secondary Education at UWE has to offer in terms of teaching quality, staff expertise and your student experience.
Structure
Content
The course is part of UWE Department of Education's programme for Initial Teacher Training. Units studied are:
- Enabling Learning
- Meeting Curriculum Challenges
- Becoming a Teacher
These units are studied in both the school and the University-based parts of the course, the work on each site being complementary. The course centres on learning about the nature, content and teaching of all aspects of the science curriculum for 11-16 year olds and of specialist Biology for 14-19 year olds, eg. A level.
On the GTTR website, look for this course under Biology rather than Science, although you will also be trained to teach across the sciences at least to KS3 and possibly KS4.
Guiding young people to develop an understanding of how scientists set about investigating the world, what science can answer and, probably more important in some ways, what it cannot, is exciting and very rewarding. Helping pupils to address misconceptions and facing some of your own is certainly challenging and never boring.
We will introduce you to a range of teaching styles, classroom management skills, lesson planning and assessment procedures both in the University and through classroom support from teachers in schools. You will consider strategies to support young people in their learning of science. You will also consider the use of a range of teaching styles and resources, including the appropriate use of information and communications technology (ICT).
You will participate in sessions with other Biology graduates, and in mixed Science groups. You will also work with graduates from other disciplines where cross-curricular issues, such as learning theories and behaviour management are covered. If you have the knowledge and the passion to teach Science with Biology then this PGCE course is for you.
Hear what our students think about their time at UWE.
Teaching and learning
Personal Support
We recognise that embarking on a new course of study can sometimes be quite a challenging undertaking. You will have support from a number of staff in the university including; your group tutor, a personal tutor from your 14 - 19 specialism (Biology). Additionally any student can get support on a range of issues from the Department Student Adviser.
Find out more about our academic staff, their teaching expertise and research interests.
Assessment
In order to pass the course, trainees are required to pass each unit. They are assessed on a number of written assignments and also on classroom practice against the standards specified by the Secretary of State for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Before the end of the course it is recommended that trainees take the computer-based QTS skills tests in Numeracy, Literacy and ICT which are set by the Training and Development Agency. (TDA).
Special Features
Placements
24 weeks are spent on placement: a total of eight weeks in one placement during the autumn term and 16 weeks in a second placement during the spring and summer.
As well as teaching, the programme includes contact time with a Senior Professional Tutor and a Subject Mentor, directed study time and personal study time.
There is an opportunity to spend time in a primary school and some students may also visit other institutions, such as special schools, science learning centres or colleges of further education.
Trainees in some placements also have the opportunity for a third placement during the final weeks of the course.
You will also be provided with opportunities to work collaboratively with young people as a whole subject group or with other scientists.
Careers/further study
For information about the national curriculum and subjects taught in secondary schools, visit Directgov online.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) programmes now include 40 credits of assessment at Master's Level (Level M). For candidates who opt not to attempt the requisite credit at Level M, a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education will be available as an alternative award.
Hear from past UWE students about how studying here has enhanced their career prospects and opened up new opportunities.
Entry
Entry requirements
Applicants normally have:
- A good honours degree (normally 2:2 minimum) with at least 50 per cent in a related subject (related to the subject you want to teach e.g. Biology or Biochemistry)
- GCSE grade C or above in mathematics and English language. (University tests in mathematics and English language may be available for some applicants)
- To have spent a minimum of 1-2 weeks in a classroom observing science being taught in a comprehensive school within the past 2 years
Applicants who do not meet the minimum academic entry requirements, but have significant life and/or work experience will be considered on an individual basis.
Additional requirements
Applicants must pass an initial selection process and short-listed candidates will be interviewed at UWE's Department of Education. Entry is subject to satisfactory interview to assess professional suitability and subject to successful medical and Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) clearance. If you would like information regarding issues that could disqualify you from teaching training, please contact us on +44 (0)117 32 83333.
TDA Standards and requirements
Following the review of Standards and Requirements for Initial Teacher Training (ITT) by the Secretary of State in 2007, UWE's Department of Education has designed its full-time courses to be compliant with the latest standards and requirements. For information on the latest standards please visit the TDA website.
General Teaching Council Registration
Please also note that since 1 September 2008 anyone commencing a course of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) in England leading to the award of Qualified Teacher Status is required to be provisionally registered with the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) You will need to complete a suitability declaration to enable the Council to identify any reason which may prevent registration. At the point of the offer of a place on an ITT course at UWE, you will be sent a GTCE Suitability Declaration form which will need to be completed and returned to the University. Providing that this declaration meets the requirements you will be recommended to be registered with the GTCE. The Government has announced a proposal to abolish the GTCE but until Parliamentary legislation is enacted registration is still required.
For further information on Provisional Registration and the suitability assessment please visit the GTCE website.
Fees
Full details of fees for this course can be found on our postgraduate fees pages.
For funding options, please see our funding and scholarships information.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011